Breakfast is a great
meal to incorporate those low cost basic foods.. Grains make a nutritious and
filling meal. I am always looking to simplify my weekday breakfast routine in
my home. I like to get breakfast done and over with quickly so we can move onto
the important issues of the day. One food my children like me to have on hand
is Instant Oatmeal. I like to have it because I know they will get a good and
filling breakfast quickly while making a minimal amount of mess in the kitchen
while they are at it!

Today’s post will be
on how to make your own instant oatmeal and a cost comparison of making your own
to buying the little packets of Quaker Instant Oatmeal.

I
did not calculate the cost of the cinnamon and salt but I don't believe it makes
a significant change in the total amount.

At
$3.42 I calculated this to cost 4 cents per ounce.

Compared to buying a box of 10 instant oatmeal packets (Quaker Oats brand,
regular, no flavoring or sugar added, total weight for one box was 11.8 oz) at:
$3.84 per box (generic brands could be cheaper) brings the cost to 32.5 cents an
ounce. Even if you could find them cheaper the cost would still be very high
compared to making it yourself.

One
last note of interest, the store bought instant oatmeal also has MSG added to
it. It is the second ingredient after oats. The sweetened types also have
sugar added, the second ingredient after oats with the MSG following in 3rd
place.

Homemade is not only way less expensive but much healthier as well!

****NOTE ON QUICK OATS****** When I originally posted
this on my blog I had a few ladies confused by "Quick Oats" and asked if they
could used rolled oats instead of quick oats. So I wanted to clarify..
quick oats and rolled oats are the SAME THING.. the ONLY difference is
that quick oats have been rolled thinner than regular rolled oats. If you
use regular rolled oats then the hot water may not sufficiently soften the oats
enough. Regular rolled oats do better with some actual cooking time.
So my recommendation is to use quick oats, not regular rolled oats for this
recipe.